The Springfield Area Food Shelf will again be participating in the 37th annual Minnesota Food Share March Campaign.The campaign began Feb. 25 and runs through April 7. Springfield’s service area for the food shelf is Springfield, Comfrey, Cobden, Clements and Sanborn.

The food shelf needs have increased and more families are using the service. All money and donations received stay at the Springfield Area Food Shelf and are matched by Minnesota Food Share.

Money donations can be mailed to the Springfield Area Food Shelf, 804 East Rock St., Springfield MN 56087.

Grocery donations or personal items may be placed in the plastic tubs marked food shelf in local churches or in Springfield Market.

A list of items currently needed is on the cover of the plastic tub.Feel free to get in touch with Shari Koll if you have questions by calling 507-227-0386 or 507-723-6120. You may also contact Jan Schwanke with questions at 507-723-4120.

Over 3,000,000 visits were made to Minnesota food shelves each year — 2011-2017 — with more than 3.4 million visits in 2017.

The number of food insecure seniors and seniors utilizing food shelves continues to increase. Minnesota’s charitable food system (food shelves and food banks, meal programs, etc.) continues to run at capacity. Supporting government programs like SNAP (“food stamps”) and creating a more just and equitable food system are integral parts of meeting the needs of food insecure households and working toward ending hunger in our communities.

Minnesota FoodShare began its work in 1982 with a campaign advanced by congregations to restock food shelves in the 7-county Twin Cities Metropolitan Area. The effort was so successful and the need was so evident, the March Campaign became a statewide program just one year later.

The largest grassroots food and fund drive in the state, the Minnesota FoodShare March Campaign brings together various community organizations, businesses, and faith communities to help stock nearly 300 food shelves statewide.

In 2018, more than $8.1 million dollars and 5.5 million pounds of food were raised by Minnesota food shelves and Minnesota FoodShare.

Minnesota FoodShare envisions a Minnesota where all residents have access to healthy food and no one struggles with food insecurity. The March Campaign addresses these issues directly and we inviteyou to join efforts and advocate for long-term solutions to food insecurity and poverty in our communities.